1) Core of Karnatic Music:

'Core of Karnatic Music', compiled and edited by Mr.A.D.Madhavan, a management professional retired from service having keen interest in music, is an anthology of 404 famous Karnatic Music Krithis of 33 well-known composers in seven Indian languages.Against each Krithi, there is the text or 'Sahithya' in Devanagari, English and Malayalam and its meaning or 'Saramsa' in English and Malayalam. An anthology of this kind, with as large as 404 popular Krithis of 33 famous composers, in seven Indian languages, with features mentioned above, under a single folder is unique and perhaps the first of its kind in Karnatic music literature. This work therefore is bound to benefit music lovers, teachers and students around the world, who have knowledge of Devanagari, English or Malayalam.

Of the 404 compilations, 118 are of Thyagaraja Swamikal, 75 of Muthuswami Dikshithar, 31 of Shyama Sasthri, 39 of Swathithirunal, 23 of Purandaradas, 23 of Annamacharya, 19 of Papanasam Shivan and balance 72 of various other distinguished composers like Uthukad Venkatasubbaiyer, Mysore Vasudevacharya, Sadasiva Brahmendrar, Narayana Theerthar, Kanaka Dasa, Mutthaiah Bhagavathar, Arunagirinathar, Subrahmanya Bharathi, K.C. Kesava Pillai, Irayimman Thampy, Kuttikkunju Thankachi, Narsinh Mehta and others.

'Ganagandharva', Dr. K.J.Yesudas, who has written the 'Foreword' to this book, has observed that this book should be possessed by every music student and sangeetha vidwan not only as a reference book, but to understand the meaning of the Krithis, so that they will be able to sing with the right 'bhava'.

The above book, having 626 pages of A4 size, already published by M/s Pen Books Pvt.Ltd, Aluva, Kerala and released to the public by His Excellency : The Governor of Kerala, Shri.Sikander Bakht, on 4 th May 2003, at a cultural function of "Swaralaya", Thiruvananthapuram , is priced at Rs.650/- in India and US $ 35/- abroad.

The Author, Mr.A.D.Madhavan (admadhavan at admadhavan.com) and the Publishers, Pen Books Pvt Ltd (penbooks at satyam.net.in) can be contacted through e-mail.

A dozen sample Krithis extracted from the book and other details about this work can be had from the website of the author(www.admadhavan.com).

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